Richie McCaw is not just satisfied with having led New Zealand to their second World Cup trophy in 2011 he also wants to be the skipper of the only All Blacks side to finish a year with a 100 per cent win record.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says his team won’t be taking anything for granted when they plays their first official test in Japan on Saturday against a Japanese team eager to improve as they prepare to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand's 378th victory in 500 internationals, which makes them one of the most successful teams in all sports, follows last week's 23-13 win in Auckland and gives them an unassailable 2-0 lead with a game to spare.

The All Blacks Sevens will be missing a number of top-line players due to injury with the biggest blow being playmaker and goal-kicker Tomasi Cama. Other influential absentees are Kurt Baker, Toby Arnold, Scot Curry, Mark Jackman and David Raikuna, a youngster who has caught the eye this season.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen expressed disappointment on Tuesday at Richard Kahui’s decision to play in Japan next year, saying he was frustrated the centre never gave him a chance to change his mind.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes England, as well as his own reigning champions, could win the 2015 World Cup after seeing Stuart Lancaster's men inflict a record-breaking 38-21 defeat on the All Blacks.

It was a bad weekend to be wearing the famous black jersey with the silver fern logo.

As England beat the All Blacks in London by their biggest ever victory margin, bringing to an end the world champions' 20-game unbeaten run, in Dubai Samoa defeated the All Blacks Sevens in the Cup final of the second leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

The lure of winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games has already resulted in a number of All Blacks lining up to join the sevens squad, but New Zealand's coaching guru, Gordon Tietjens, warned they would not have automatic preference and would have to first prove themselves.